Understanding SC 3.2.3 Consistent Navigation

3.2.3 Consistent Navigation: Navigational mechanisms that are repeated on multiple Web pages within a set of Web pages occur in the same relative order each time they are repeated, unless a change is initiated by the user. (Level AA)

This success criterion requires that the commonly repeated navigation
related user interface elements like skip to main content link, primary
secondary navigation links, logo, search element etc must be placed at the
same locations where they occur on each page they are repeated. The
placement of these user interface components is very important as people
with disabilities heavily rely on common components for quick navigation.
Users with cognitive & intellectual disabilities, users who use screen
magnification technology & text to speech software’s must be able to predict
the existence of the common components. For example, if a few pages
contains, a search element is placed on the top right and in other pages,
the search component is not placed in the same location, this will fail this
Success Criterion. Sc3.2.3.

Providing consistent navigation does restrict content authors or developers
from adding secondary navigation or additional components into the layout of
the page. For example, a navigational menu might have sub menus that are
exposed when the user is on that particular navigational menu. But here the
order must not change the order of the navigation menu while the submenus
are added in between them. Focus of the keyboard/assistive aid user must go
to each menu during navigation.

Points To Remember

keep navigational menus in the same location.

present the navigational menus in the same order on all pages.

Represent all the standard elements like logo, search functionality, and skip links etc. in the same location on all the pages.

using a standard template will help achieve to pass the success criteria of 3.2.3 consistent navigation.

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About Raghavendra Satish Peri

Peri as he is fondly called brings in rich experience in Digital Accessibility; He has worked with various clients ranging from Travel & Hospitality, ecommerce, Entertainment, Banking & Finance. Presently, he works at Deque Software as Digital Accessibility Consultant slaying web accessibility & mobile accessibility challenges.